Telescoping vhf-uhf antenna for a television receiver



Aug. 4, 1970 E. K. VON FANGE 3,522,603

TELESCOPING VHF-UHF ANTENNA FOR A TELEVISION RECEIVER Filed Feb. 19, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 PRIOR ART UHF l V ruuen Hl-PASS LO-PASS INVENTOR:

VHF EUG NE K.VON FANGE, ruusn BY IS ATTORNEY.

1970 E. K. VONFANGE 3,522,608

TELEESCOPING VHF-UHF ANTENNA FOR A TELEVISION RECEIVER Filed Feb. 19, 1969 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 at FIGAA. at FIG.4B. is" FIGAC.

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IS ATTORNEY.

United States Patent O US. Cl. 343-702 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Improved indoor antenna means for a television receiver having a VHF tuner and a UHF tuner. The antenna means includes at least one telescopic VHF antenna pole having a lower section swivelled on the receiver top and an upper section movable along the pole long axis between a storage position adjacent to and extended positions spaced at various distances from the receiver. The loop-type UHF antenna that has been conventionally mounted on the receiver back is eliminated and replaced by at least one UHF antenna pole mountable on the VHF antenna pole for movement therewith and transverse extension therefrom. Thus, the swivelled, telescopic VHF antenna pole can also serve as adjustable support means for positioning the UHF antenna pole in a far greater variety of locations relative to the receiver than previously available with conventional UHF loop antenna, and, hence, the need to reposition the receiver to locate the indoor UHF antenna means in the region of maximum strength of the UHF signal sought to be tuned can be eliminated or greatly reduced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to antenna means and, more particularly, to improved indoor antenna means for a television receiver having a VHF tuner and a UHF tuner.

Commercial television signals are telecast in the frequency spectra normally characterized as very high frequency and ultra high frequency, respectively. These spectra are commonly referred to in abbreviated form as VHF and UHF. The VHF spectrum extends between 54 to 216 megacycles, and the UHF spectrum extends from 470 to 890 megacycles.

In adapting television receivers for receiving both VHF (Channels 2 to 13) and UHF (Channels 14 to 83) stations, two separate tuners and antennas are usually used, with one tuner-antenna system being particularly designed for VHF reception and the other for UHF reception.

Typically, the indoor VHF antenna means is of the telescopic pole variety including one pole (monopole) or two poles (rabbit ears) mounted on the receiver. Each telescopic VHF antenna pole usually includes a lower section, which is swivelled on the receiver top both for 360 rotary movement about the vertical axis and for angular movement between a vertical and near horizontal positions, and an upper section that is movable along the pole long axis between a retracted position adjacent to and extended positions spaced various distances from the receiver. On the other hand, the indoor UHF antenna means typically comprises a UHF loop antenna that is mounted on the back of the receiver.

While the wide range of adjustment relative to the receiver that is provided by the swivelled, telescopic poletype construction usually permits location of the conventional indoor VHF antenna in the region of maximum signal strength without requiring repositioning of the receiver, it is frequently necessary to reposition the receiver ice in order to so locate the less flexible conventional UHF loop antenna.

Furthermore, it would also be advantageous to convenience of operation and economy of manufacture it the conventional separate indoor antenna means could be combined into integrated antenna means which would function as a common indoor antenna means for both the VHF and UHF tuners.

As will become more evident as this description proceeds, the present invention provides improved indoor antenna means for a television receiver that is greatly simplified in comparison with the means heretofore available and which eliminates or greatly reduces the need for repositioning of the receiver to locate the UHF antenna means in the region of maximum strength of the signal sought to be tuned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, it has been found that the aforedescribed deficiencies of previously known indoor antenna means can be overcome by eliminating the loop-type UHF antenna that is conventionally mounted on the back of the receiver and replacing it with at least one UHF antenna pole that can be mounted on the VHF antenna pole for movement therewith and transverse extension therefrom, such that the swivelled, telescopic VHF antenna pole can serve as adjustable support means for positioning the UHF antenna pole in a wide range of locations relative to the top, front, back and sides of the receiver. Thus, the need for repositioning the receiver in order to locate the UHF antenna means in the region of the maximum strength of the signal sought to be tuned can be eliminated or greatly reduced.

In accordance 'with another aspect of the present invention, the otherwise conventional swivelled, telescopic pole-type VHF antenna means is electrically connected to both the VHF and the UHF tuners such that the VHF antenna means can perform its normal function as receiving antenna for VHF signals and can also serve as a transmission conduit for carrying UHF signals from the novel pole-type UHF antenna means to the UHF tuner.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, integrated VHF-UHF indoor antenna means is provided by hinging the upper telescopic sections of the pole or poles of the otherwise conventional pole-type VHF antenna means for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the VHF pole long axis with hinge means that can be telescoped along with the pole sections. Thus, the integrated VHF-UHF antenna means of the present invention can be moved between a storage position similar to that of the conventional pole-type VHF antenna means and extended positions in which the pole lower sections extend upwardly from the receiver to function either as VHF antenna means or as adjustable support means and transmission conduit means for the pole upper sections that can be pivoted about the hinge means to extend generally horizontally above the receiver to serve as poletype UHF antenna means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational perspective view of a portable television recevier employing typical prior-art antenna means with antennae extended positions shown in full lines and antennae storage positions shown in shadow lines;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the receiver equipped with a first form of the improved antenna means of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic illustration of the electrical circuit of the form of the invention shown in FIG.

FIGS. 4A-C are greatly enlarged elevational crosssectional views showing details of a presently preferred form of hinge structure employed in the invention form of FIG. 2, with FIG. 4A showing the outermost sections of the pole-like antenna arranged to receive UHF channel 14, FIG. 4B showing them arranged to receive UHF channel 83, and FIG. 4C showing them arranged to be telescoped along with the hinge means and lower pole sections into the storage position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 but showing an alternative form of the present invention substituted for the prior-art means of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top view of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is illustrated a typical portable television receiver 10 having a generally rectangular box-like outer cabinet 11 housing a VHF tuner and a UHF tuner (not shown). The VHF tuner is provided with a pair of electrical terminals 12a and 12b which extend from the back of the cabinet 11 for connection either with remotely located outdoor VHF antenna means (not shown) or with indoor VHF antenna means. As shown in FIG. 1, the indoor VHF antenna means is conventional and comprises a pair of electrically conductive poles or rabbit cars 13 and 13 mounted on the top of the receiver cabinet 11 and respectively electrically connected to the VHF tuner terminals 120 and 12b by wires 14a and 14b of a standard 300 ohm impedance ribbon conductor 14.

The two VHF antenna poles 13 and 13' are substantially 2 identical to one another; each being formed of a plurality of telescopic tubular sections including a lowermost or base section 13b and an uppermost section 13L The base section 13b is swivelled on the top of the receiver cabinet 11 in a well-known manner for 360 rotary movement about the vertical axis and for angular movement between the vertical and near horizontal positions. The uppermost section 132 can be moved along the pole long axis between a storage position (shadow lines), wherein its upper end lies adjacent the top of the receiver cabinet 11, and a wide variety of extended positions (such as the extended position shown in full lines), wherein its upper end is spaced from the top of the cabinet. Thus, the conventional indoor VHF antenna poles 13 and 13' can be retracted into the storage position when not in use and can be extended and swivelled through a wide range of locations relative to the top, front, rear and sides of the cabinet 11. Hence, it is rarely necessary to reposition the receiver 10 in order to locate these conventional VHF antenna means 13 and 13' within the region of maximum strength of the signal sought to be tuned by the VHF tuner.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the UHF tuner is provided with a pair of electrical terminals 15a and 15b which extend from the back of the receiver cabinet 11 for electrical connection either with remotely located outdoor UHF antenna means (not shown) or with indoor UHF antenna means. As shown in FIG. 1, the indoor UHF antenna means is conventional and comprises an electrically conductive open loop antenna 16 of substantially fixed dimension which has its opposite terminal ends 160 and 16b respectively electrically connected to the UHF tuner terminals 15a and 15b on the back of the receiver cabinet 11 and horizontally hinged for 180 pivotal movement through a variety of positions ranging between a storage position (shadow lines), in which the UHF loop 16 extends downwardly and substantially flush against the back of the cabinet (shadow lines) and an uppermost extended position (full lines). Thus, the conventional UHF antenna loop 16 can only be adjusted relative to the back of the receiver cabinet and cannot be located in the areas in front of or on either side of the cabinet 11 without repositioning of the receiver 10. Hence, it is frequently necessary to reposition the receiver 10 in order to locate the conventional UHF antenna loop 16 within the region of maximum strength of the UHF signal sought to be tuned by the UHF tuner.

In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that the aforementioned deficiencies of conventional indoor antenna means can be overcome or greatly mitigated by eliminating the conventional UHF loop antenna 16 and replacing it with novel pole-type UHF antenna means that can be mounted on conventional topswivelled, telescopic pole-type VHF antenna means, similar to the VHF antenna poles 13 and 13, such that these extremely flexible VHF antenna means can also serve as adjustable support means for positioning the novel pole-type UHF antenna means in a far wider range of locations relative to the receiver 10 than previously possible with the conventional back-mounted UHF loop antenna 16 and, thus, eliminate or greatly reduce the need to reposition the receiver 10 in order to locate the UHF antenna means in the region of maximum strength of the signal sought to be tuned by the UHF tuner.

FIGS. 2.6 illustrate two presently preferred forms of the means provided by the present invention for achieving the desired improvements in indoor antenna means, with FIGS. 2-4 showing a first form in which the novel pole-type UHF antenna means is integrally hinged to the otherwise conventional pole-type VHF antenna means and with FIGS. 5 and 6 showing another form in which means are provided for detachably mounting the novel pole-like UHF antenna means on the otherwise conventional pole-type VHF antenna.

In the form of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, the conventional UHF antenna loop '16 is wholly eliminated and the conventional VHF antenna poles 13 and 13' are replaced by a pair of integrated VHF-UHF antenna poles 23 and 23. As shown, these integrated VHF-UHF antenna poles 23 and 23' are generally similar to the conventional VHF antenna poles 13 and 13' in that each is formed by a plurality of telescopic tubular sections including a base or lower sec tion 23b that is swivelled on the top of a receiver cabinet 11. However, in accordance with this form of the present invention, each of the integrated VHF-UHF antenna poles 23 and 23' is provided with hinge means 23h which permits its uppermost 23! and next uppermost 23n telescopic sections to be pivoted to extend transverse to the pole long axis and circuit means are provided for connecting the integrated antenna poles 23 and 23' to both the VHF and UHF tuners.

As shown schematically in FIG. 3, the integrated VHF-UHF poles 23 and 23' are electrically connected to both the VHF and UHF tuners through passive switch means which comprises a well-known form of high-pass, low-pass filter that has a pair of terminals 24a and 24b which extend from the back of the receiver cabinet 11 and are respectively connected to the wires 14a and 14b of a standard 300 ohm impedance ribbon conductor 14 that are, in turn, connected to the base sections 23b of the integrated antenna poles 23 and 23. The wellknown filter, shown in block in FIG. 3, is internally connected to the terminals 12a, 12b, and 15a, 15b of the VHF and UHF tuners respectively.

With this arrangement, normal operation in the VHF spectrum or band is substantially unaffected and the hinged upper sections 231 and 2311 of the integrated VHF- UHF antenna poles 23 and 23' can be pivoted at right angles (solid lines FIG. 2) to the remaining lower sections 23) thereof to form a UHF band dipole antenna. The remaining lower portions 231- of the integrated VHF- UHF antenna poles 23 and 23 are utilized in conjunction with the ribbon conductor 14 as a substantially 300 ohmimpedance transmission line to feed the UHF signals through the filter and into the UHF tuner. Thus, the

remaining lower portions 23r of the integrated VHF- UHF antenna poles 23 and 23' can be swivelled about their base sections 23b and/or telescoped along the pole long axis to bring their integrally hinged UHF antenna pole-forming upper sections 23t and 23m into the region of maximum signal strength.

The hinge means 23h is preferably made of the flushtype (such as used in many drafting instruments) so as to be telescoped with the remaining lower telescopic pole sections 23r into a storage position adjacent the top of the receiver cabinet, as shown in shadow lines in FIG. 1. As shown in detail in FIGS. 4A-4C the two uppermost sections 231? and 2321 of each of the integrated VHF-UHF antenna poles 23 and 23' are attached by the hinge means 23h for pivotal movement to extend at a right angle to the long axis of the pole and are sized in length such that when fully extended (FIG. 4A) they are equal in total length to Mrwave length of the channel 14 signal (approximately 6 inches), and when the upper-most section 231 is fully retracted within the next uppermost section 23n, the combined length (FIG. 4B) of these sections 23t and 23n is equal to A-wave length of the channel 83 signal (approximately 3 inches). Of course, these UHF antenna pole lengths can be adjusted to receive intermediate channel signals by inwardly or outwardly adjusting the projection of the uppermost section 23t from the next uppermost section 23n. As further illustrated in FIG. 4C, the flush construction of the hinge means 23h allows the hinged upper sections 23t and 23n of the integrated VHF- UHF poles 23 and 23' to be pivoted parallel to the pole long axis and telescoped along with the hinge means 23h and the remaining telescopic sections 23r below them into the retracted or storage position.

Thus it can be seen that the form of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2-4 provides integrated VHF-UHF antenna means comprising adjustable pole-type UHF antenna means 23t and 2311 that are directly hinged to more or less conventional telescopic pole-type VHF antenna means 23r which, in turn, can function as adjustable support means for positioning the UHF antenna means 23t and 23n in a wide range of locations relative to the top, front, rear and sides of the receiver such that these novel UHF antenna means can be more frequently located in the region of maximum signal strength sought to be tuned without requiring repositioning of the receiver than has previously been the case when the conventional UHF antenna loop 16 was employed.

In the alternative form of the present invention, illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the conventional UHF antenna loop 16 is eliminated and replaced by a pair of UHF antenna poles 33 and 33 which are respectively carried by a pair of interlocking insulator blocks 34 and 34' that can be detachably mounted on the conventional VHF antenna poles 13 and 13', which are retained but are electrically connected to 'both the VHF and UHF tuners through suitable circuit means such as the previously described high-pass, low-pass filter.

As best shown in FIG. 6, the two insulator blocks 34 and 34' are substantially identical to one another and are each provided with mating surfaces having a pair of notches which are adapted to be aligned around the two conventional VHF antenna poles 13 and 13'. The two holes thus formed by the aligned mating notches are of such a diameter :as to clear the outside diameter of the lower or base portion 13b of each of the conventional antenna poles 13 and 13, while the ferrule 13 provided on the top of each of the conventional VHF antenna poles 13 and 13 is of a diameter larger than the holes formed by the aligned notches so that blocks 34 and 34 are trapped on the two conventional VHF antenna poles 13 and 13'. Each of the two UHF antenna poles 33 and 33' comprises a pair of hollow tubular telescopic sections including an outer section 33t and an inner section 33n pivoted on its insulator block 34 or 34' by an axle 35 or 35' that is substantially parallel to the long axes of the conventional VHF antenna poles 13 and 13' when the blocks are clipped thereto. When fully extended, the combined length of the inner and outer sections 33n and 33! of each of the UHF poles 33 and 33' equals A-Wave length of the channel 14 signal (approximately 6 inches), and, when the outer section 33t is fully telescoped within the inner 3311, their combined length equals A-wave length of the channel 83 signal (approximately 3 inches). Each of the UHF antenna poles 33 and 33 is respectively electrically and mechanically, connected by an electrically conductive leaf spring 36 or 36 to the ferrule 13f at the top of the uppermost section 13t of one of the conventional VHF antenna poles 13 or 13'.

With this alternative form of the present invention normal operation of the VHF antenna poles 13 and 13' in the VHF band is substantially unaffected and the UHF antenna poles 33 and 33' can be elevated along with the upper sections 131 of the conventional VHF antenna poles 13 and 13' and pivoted at right angles thereto about the block axles 35 and 35' (as shown in solid lines in FIG. 5) to form a UHF band dipole antenna. The VHF antenna poles 13 and 13' are utilized in conjunction with the two electrically conductive leaf springs 36 and 36 and the standard ribbon conductor 14 as a 300 ohm impedance transmission line to feed the UHF signals from the UHF antenna poles 33 and 33' through the high-pass filter and into the UHF tuner. Thus, the conventional VHF antenna poles 13 and 13' can be swivelled about their base sections 13b or telescoped along their pole axis to bring the detachably mounted UHF antenna pole means 33 and 33' into the region of maximum signal strength. And, as in the case with the form shown in FIGS. 2-4, the lengths of these alternative clip-on UHF antenna poles 33 and 33' can be adjusted to intermediate UHF channel signals by inwardly or outwardly adjusting the amount of projection of the outer section 33t| from the inner section 3311.

As will be evident from the foregoing description certain aspects of the present invention are not limited to the particular details of construction of the forms illustrated, and it is contemplated that various other modifications or applications will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, active switch means, such as a manually operated switch, might be substituted for the illustrated high-pass, low-pass filter in the circuit means for connecting the pole-type VHF and UHF antenna means to both the VHF and UHF tuners. Or, the pole-type UHF antenna means might be directly electrically connected to the UHF tuner through circuit means which omit the poletype VHF antenna means. It is therefore intended that the appended claims shall cover such modifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a television receiver having a VHF tuner and a UHF tuner and indoor antenna means including at least one telescopic VHF antenna pole having a lower section swivelled on the top of the receiver and an upper section movable along the pole long axis between a storage position adjacent the top of the receiver and extended positions spaced from the receiver, an improvement comprising: at least one UHF antenna pole mounted and electrically connected to the upper portion of the VHF antenna pole for movement therewith and transverse extension therefrom at a level sufficiently high above the receiver such that the VHF antenna pole also functions as adjustable support and electrical conduit means for positioning said UHF antenna pole in a wide range of locations relative to the top, front, rear and sides of the receiver whereby optimum UHF signal reception may be achieved without repositioning the receiver.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said UHF antenna pole comprises a telescopic pole that can be varied in length so as to match the wave length of a particular UHF signal sought to be received.

3. The invention of claim 1, further including hinge means for directly hinging said UHF antenna pole to the VHF antenna pole for movement between a first position parallel to the VHF antenna pole long axis and a second position substantially at a right angle to the VHF antenna pole long axis.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein said UHF pole and said hinge means can be telescoped along with said VHF antenna pole into the storage position.

5. Improved indoor antenna means for a television receiver having a VHF tuner and a UHF tuner, comprismg:

(a) VHF antenna means including at least one telescopic VHF antenna pole having (1) a lower section adapted to be swivelled on the top of a television receiver and (2) an upper section movable along the pole long axis between a storage position adjacent the top of the receiver and extended positions spaced from the receiver;

(b) UHF antenna means including at least one UHF antenna pole; and

(c) mounting means for mounting and electrically con- 5 necting said UHF antenna pole to said VHF antenna pole upper section for movement therewith and transverse extension therefrom at a level sufficiently high above the receiver such that the VHF antenna pole 8 also functions as adjustable support and electrical conduit means for positioning said UHF antenna pole in a wide range of locations relative to the top, front, rear and sides of the receiver whereby optimum UHF signal reception may be achieved without repositioning the receiver.

6. The invention of claim 5, wherein said UHF antenna pole is integrated with said VHF antenna pole by said mounting means.

7. The invention of claim 5, wherein said UHF antenna pole is detachably mounted on said VHF antenna pole by said mounting means.

8. The invention of claim 5, wherein said improved antenna means comprises a pair of said VHF antenna poles each having one of said UHF antenna poles mounted thereon by said mounting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1968 Nienaber 343-795 FOREIGN PATENTS 6/1962 Austria. 8/1958 Australia.

ELI LIEBERMAN, Primary Examiner Us. 01. XJR. 343 730, s05 

